Archive for May, 2009

8 Tips on Choosing the Right Vacuum Cleaner

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009
Arthur Raise asked:


Thinking of buying a vacuum cleaner? Then you must first make up your mind whether you are going to buy a vacuum cleaner for the home or your business place and whether you want a domestic model or heavy duty one.

There are many kinds of vacuums available today and so you need to know the basic differences:

1. Upright vacuums are ideal for carpeted homes and very easy to use.

2. Canister vacuums are ideal for cleaning uncarpeted surfaces such as stairs, front steps, and lobbies and so on.

3. Back-pack vacuums are popular and are carried on the users back. They clean carpets and upholstery well.

4. Central vacuums are permanent installments in a building or house and this needs permanent inlets in all rooms for connecting the hose.

5. Hand-held vacuums are ideal for cleaning cars and computer key boards.

6. Steam-vacuums are used to clean carpets and upholstery and these can usually be rented from cleaning companies and home improvement stores.

7. HEPA filter vacuums are EPA recommended and these are great for homes where people have allergies or asthma.

When shopping for a vacuum look for reliability and sturdiness.

• Ask what attachments come with the model.

• Whether or not the machine has filters.

• Find out what wattage the machine runs on and what its expected power consumption will be.

• Ask for a model that works on floors as well as carpets and upholstery.

• Think how much suction power will be ideal for your cleaning needs.

• Ask what the running costs of replacing filters or vacuum bags are. Some vacuums have bags other don’t..

• Check what is covered under warranty and what the service charges for repair are.

• When shopping for a vacuum go armed with information. Surf the internet and read reviews and recommendations given in various home improvement websites.

• Ask around with family, friends, and colleagues what their personal experiences have been with different vacuum brands.

• Also ask the company whether the model you like is a current one or is being phased out. This is important as a vacuum is used for several years and you need to be sure that spares will be available.

• Always try out the model before you buy. See whether you are comfortable with fitting the various attachments and whether the weight and height of the vacuum cleaner are suitable to your height and weight.

There are many vacuums in the market Miele, Panasonic, sharp, simplicity, Kirby, Hoover, Lindhaus and so on . Many are high end but sturdy. What you can consider is waiting for the discount sales or auctions where the expensive model can be purchased at a fraction of its original cost. Another great and quite popular option is buying a vacuum cleaner online. Many online stores offer great discounts and competitive prices that are much lower than the market. So log on to the World Wide web and see what is on offer there at many e-commerce websites. However a word of caution protect your privacy and take care to make a purchase only form established reputable websites.



Grace
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Robotic Vacuum Cleaners: Cleaning Technology of the Future?

Monday, May 11th, 2009
Jeanie Wong asked:


Domestic robots no longer exist simply in the minds of science fiction authors. Domestic robots, or robots used for household chores, are becoming increasingly common and popular, with several leading vacuum manufacturers developing their own unique models. New models of robot vacuum cleaners are constantly hitting the market, and the promise of more models in the future is a sure sign that the nascent commercial robot industry is finally taking flight. In terms of domestic robots, there are basically three distinct classes and categories:

1. Domobots: The highest level of domestic robot. These are used for a range of household chores, are autonomous, and are usually connected to a Wi-Fi home network.

2. Entertainment Robots: These can be used at home, but are usually reserved for entertainment and social interaction purposes.

3. Care and Chore Robots: These are used for basic household chores, including vacuuming.

Robotic vacuums fall into this latter category, and many consumers choose these in an attempt to lessen the burden of household vacuuming and perhaps even liberate them from this unpleasant daily chore. The most popular robotic vacuum models are usually compact, pizza-shaped appliances with suckers that move around a room until they cover an entire area. They can vary significantly in price, ranging in $100 for some of the most basic models to well over $1000 to some of the of most advanced units, and deciding on what features are the most important to you will be crucial in determining a robotic vacuum’s price.

Nonetheless, today’s robotic vacuums have definitely come a long way from those that were initially introduced just a few years ago. The older models were often awkward, used primitive controls, and had to be tracked down when stranded in the house by an annoying and incessant “Low Battery” beep. Some of the latest robotic vacuums available today can not only clean your home, but they can also remember your home’s layout to increase efficiency, dispose of its own dirt in a designated receptacle, and even have the ability to find their way back to a recharging station to repower.

One of the main points to be aware of when purchasing a robotic vacuum is the fact that these types of vacuums are meant to supplement a standard, human-operated vacuum, and not to replace it. They are simply meant to perform either daily or weekly touch ups to keep your home, office, or workspace tidier in between regular vacuum sessions. In addition, robotic vacuums work best on hard flooring, although some units have transitioning capability and are able to convert from floors to low-level carpeting with ease. While some robotic vacuums may work well on thicker carpet, the transition from floor to dense carpet may be difficult.

With these factors in mind, if a robotic vacuum seems like the right choice for you, first decide on your vacuuming needs. A simple, lower-priced robotic vacuum can clean and dust your hard flooring, while a pricier unit will be able to transition from floor to carpet and also boast features such as scheduler options, memory, and dirt detecting sensors. Ultimately, a robotic vacuum’s price will be primarily influenced by its special features, such remote-controlled operation, a self-charging base, or even virtual walls.

If your primary interest in a robotic vacuum is because of the convenience factor, you will want to decide whether you want the robotic vacuum to randomly clean an area or be able to “sense” whether it has missed a specific area of your home and continue until the entire area is cleaned. Some robotic vacuums even feature dust sensors to detect if the floor is extremely saturated, and they will linger on that spot accordingly. The size of a vacuum’s dust bin is also to be considered. Not all robotic vacuum dust bins are of the same size, and larger dust bins are obviously more convenient. Be sure to check how easily a robotic vacuum’s dust bin removes itself from the unit, as frequent emptying will result in optimum performance.

Thankfully, because robotic vacuums do not utilize any complicated bags or filters, maintenance is usually quite simple: be sure to check for debris that may be clogging the brushes and replace as necessary, and empty the dust bin on a regular basis.

Nevertheless, despite the limitations of a robotic vacuum and regardless of what model robot vacuum you choose, one thing is certain: robotic vacuums will be as common as television sets or microwave ovens, and robotic vacuum manufacturers and consumers alike are agreeing that the robotic revolution is finally here.



Gordon
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Vacuum Cleaners - Getting the Best Buy for Your Money

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
Chuck Lunsford asked:


Without a doubt one of the most common housekeeping appliances is the ordinary vacuum cleaner. These range from light-duty models up to the 100 gallon shop models. What vacuum you choose depends largely on the demand you expect to place on it. In this article I’ll offer a few tips on how to choose the right one for your needs.

Types Of Vacuums:

Vacuum cleaners come in variety of shapes, sizes, styles and features. There is the small; rechargeable handheld which is best suited for cleaning up specific spots that may be difficult to reach with other types of cleaners. Uprights and canisters are other types that are used for around the home or small office. The upright is lighter and more maneuverable but lacks the ability to handle tougher jobs, while the canister vacuum is perfect for harder jobs around the home but is more restricted in it’s movement. If you live in a home with two or more floors the upright may be the way to go; just make sure you have obtain additional stair cleaning attachments. Another type of vacuum gaining popularity is the broom type which is great for apartment and condo dwellers that have smaller areas to keep clean.

Buying A Vacuum Cleaner:

Keep in mind the phrase “You get what you pay for” when making a vacuum purchase. Making the right buying decision should be made according to your specific needs, but don’t scrimp on quality just to save a few bucks. All vacuums are not created equal.

Some things to consider:

Type - Your choice in the type of vacuum cleaner to purchase depends on the surfaces you’ll be cleaning, so be sure you keep this consideration in mind before buying.

Comfort - You wouldn’t buy a car that was hard to drive, so why is a vacuum any different? Handling is an important feature in buying a vacuum cleaner. Check how well it handles, its weight, size and comfort of use.

Noise - This is where the higher price models really have it over the cheaper brands. If you are sensitive to noise, then you might want to consider buying a higher priced model with insulated materials around the motors.

Filtration - Check the efficiency of its filter, especially if you are prone to allergies. Research the HEPA rating of different models online before you go shopping. Vacuum cleaners with highly rated filtration systems usually come at a premium, but are more effective in filtering out particles. If price is your main consideration then choose a vacuum with an efficient dust collector. Typically these collectors consist of a bag or plastic container.

If you’re not into replacing your vacuum every few years go with a metal framed unit. A longer cord is also a plus if your home has fewer electrical outlets or you simply don’t want to stop cleaning every few minutes to change outlets.

If you decide to spend the extra money for a higher quality unit then seriously consider purchasing an extended warranty as well. Even a Mercedes has to go to the mechanic from time to time.

There is a lot to consider when buying a vacuum cleaner. To reiterate, it largely depends on your intended use and how much you are willing to spend. Take your time and test a few models before you purchase the one to suit your needs.



Charles
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Are there any problems with using a vacuum cleaner when I have kittens around?

Wednesday, May 6th, 2009
d s asked:


I have a really loud vacuum cleaner and I’m afraid that it will scare young kittens (8-12 weeks) that I plan on having in the home. What should I do?

Jessica
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Vacuum Cleaners Can Help Keep your Home Cleaner and Provide Relief for Allergy and Asthma Sufferers

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009
Abigail Franks asked:


We’re always looking for the best buy and lowest cost on anything we need to get. Although it’s not good to pay to much, many times getting the cheapest product is no bargain. Our thought is that if we get a good quality product at the best price possible, it also tends to be a better vacuum that has the ability to better capture the dust and dirt. By controlling the dirt in the air, we limit the possibility of aggravating you or your families allergies. But you don’t need to have allergies to need a good quality vacuum.

The idea is that with a better vacuum cleaner, your home is cleaner and with less dust so there’s less opportunity to cause breathing problems. But even if you or a member of your family don’t suffer from allergies, isn’t it good to know that your vacuum is collecting all the dust possible instead of just redepositing it back in the air to land somewhere else? (of course it is!)

Vacuum cleaners have been around since the early 1900’s. Although the technology has evolved from simple suction to the newer industrial look bagless cyclonic action uprights. The choices continue to rise as high technology computer based vacuum cleaners also continue to gain in popularity. These robotic wonders are taking the idea of easy cleaning to a new level. But no matter what type of vacuum is of interest, none of us want to pay to much for one. Value is getting the highest quality and the lowest possible cost.

Still, it’s important to remember that the basic function of vacuums are to remove dirt and debris from your carpets and floors. Dust is usually human skin cells or dirt that has entered your home through the windows and doors. There is simply no way to keep a house clean all the time if it has any openings like doors and windows to the outside. This means that we’re in a never ending cycle of controlling the dirt in our homes. This is where the vacuum cleaner can really shine.

There are many types and styles of cleaners from the old and trusted Hoover canister or upright vacuums to the latest technology bag and bagless wonders. If you’re shopping for a new vacuum cleaner, it’s important to shop for features and not just on price. The basis for your selection should be on the important features, the service life then the price of the unit that you really need.

The service life is the usable lifetime of the vacuum cleaner itself. Higher quality units typically have better warranties and last longer. The warranty period is a good indication of the reliability and useful life expectancy. A company wouldn’t offer a 3 or 5 year warranty if they didn’t have a lot of confidence that the unit would stand up to that much use would they? But remember. it’s only an indication of the quality of the machine based on average use. If you’re like my neighbors family that includes 8 kids, you will no doubt be using your vacuum a lot more than the twenty somethings or empty nesters where they both work and no ones home during the day.

If considering a major upgrade in the vacuum cleaner category you would definitely want to consider central vacuum cleaners. Now these are whole house centralized units and although they cost more, are some of the most convenient and versatile vacuums available today. The central vacuum system could be considered a floor dirt collecting monster that can also easily clean draperies, linens, ceiling fans and many other home furnishings.

Still, if you’re looking for a good portable quality unit, you really need to consider some of the more affordably priced units from many of the popular manufactuerers. These units have good service warranties and do have a definite place in the market.

At our site, we have a wide variety of information on all types of



Elsie
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What kind of Vacuum Cleaner is reliable?

Monday, May 4th, 2009
eric53 asked:


My friends have a Filthy Queen vacuum and they say it is a pretty good and reliable machine. Does anyone know anything about this type of cleaner or the Filthy Queen Company?
Are you following me Camera Guy?

Christian
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How to Choose a Vacuum Cleaner

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009
Paul Teven asked:


There are so many different vacuum cleaners on the market that it can be confusing to choose the right one.

The first step is to determine whether an upright or canister is right for your lifestyle and home environment. So, we’ll identify the different types of vacuum cleaners and examine how you decide which type is right for you.

This decision is based on the amount of carpeting and other flooring in the home, whether or not you have stairs, as well as any specialized cleaning situations.

Once you have identified the type of vacuum cleaner, there are still a number of other considerations that will narrow your choices further and ultimately lead to the vacuum cleaner that will perform optimally for you.

These considerations include, the type of fibers used in the carpet and/or rugs; the amount of traffic and the types of soiling in the home; performance, durability, ease of use, filtration, noise level, capacity, storage, features and cost.

The Different Types of Vacuum Cleaners

While there are all sorts of specialty or secondary vacuum cleaners, such as hand vacuums, car vacuums, wet/dry vacuums and so on, this article is focused on choosing the primary vacuum cleaner for a home.

There are two major types of vacuum cleaners, uprights and canisters. There are significant differences between these types. The most obvious is that you push an upright and pull a canister.

Uprights generally have a revolving brush roll to provide agitation and may have one motor that provides the suction and also turns the agitator or it may have two motors, one to provide suction and one to drive the brush. There are a wide variety of different upright designs for many different cleaning situations.

Upright vacuum cleaners excel at cleaning synthetic (nylon, olefin or polyester) carpeting and many also have the ability to turn off the revolving brush for cleaning smooth floors. Recent innovations like on-board attachments and integrated extension hoses have made uprights much more versatile and able to offer many of the features of canisters.

Uprights have traditionally been the favorite type of vacuum cleaner in the U.S. and Great Britain. In Europe and the rest of the world, canisters are the vacuum cleaner of choice.

A canister vacuum cleaner has a base unit that contains the vacuum motor, dust bag and filter system. There are three types of canister vacuum cleaners. All three are used with a hose, wands and attachments. The difference is in the attachments.

Canisters may utilize a revolving brush like uprights in a cleaning tool known as a power head or power nozzle. The first type of canister has no power nozzle of any kind is called a straight suction canister and uses a variety of non-revolving brush floor and carpet tools to clean flooring.

The second type is a canister with a turbo or turbine power nozzle, which is a power nozzle with a revolving brush that is powered by the airflow created by the canister’s suction motor.

The third type of canister features a power nozzle where a separate electric motor drives a revolving brush roll. This type of canister is often referred to as a power team.

Canisters are by far the most versatile vacuum cleaner design, offering outstanding performance on carpet and smooth floors as well as above the floor surfaces. Because the cleaning tools are used with a hose and wands, these vacuum cleaners are more maneuverable and easily able to get under most furniture and into tight spaces.

And, because canisters are designed to be used with attachments, they generally have more thoughtfully designed, highly functional attachments that perform a wide variety of above the floor cleaning tasks easily and effectively.

The Cleaning Environment

The next step is to evaluate the surfaces that you will be cleaning, starting with flooring. Is your home primarily wall-to-wall carpeting except for smooth floors (vinyl, wood, tile, marble, etc.) in bathrooms and kitchen? Or do you have large amounts of smooth floors, perhaps with area rugs?

Another important question is whether or not your home has stairs.

Also, are there any special above the floor cleaning requirements that might require specialized attachments? These might include high ceilings, elaborate light fixtures, ceiling fans, special collections and so on.

Choosing the Type of Vacuum Cleaner

With this information you can now decide on the type of vacuum cleaner you’re looking for.

If your home has stairs, a canister or power team is the recommended type of vacuum cleaner. An upright is not designed to clean stairs by itself. And, even with attachments, attempting to clean stairs with an upright is awkward and the results are generally poor because you cannot use an upright’s revolving brush on the stair treads, an area of high traffic.

If you do not have stairs, and if your home is primarily synthetic fiber (nylon, olefin or polyester) wall-to-wall carpeting, an upright with smooth floor cleaning ability and the necessary attachments to clean above the floor surfaces is a good choice.

However, many homes today feature a combination of smooth floors in a variety of materials, area rugs and some wall-to-wall carpeting. In these homes (or in homes with stairs) a canister or power team will provide the best results.

As mentioned above, there are three types of canister vacuum cleaners. A canister that has no power nozzle of any kind is called a straight suction canister. It is suitable for environments with very little or no carpet at all. If there is any carpet, the soiling conditions will be light to moderate, as this type of machine cannot be expected to do a good job removing soils from carpet pile.

The second type is a canister with a turbo or turbine power nozzle, which is a power nozzle with a revolving brush that is powered by the airflow created by the canister’s suction motor. This type of canister is a good choice when soiling conditions are moderate or when the amount of carpet and rugs in the home is either not a large percentage of the flooring or has lower pile (the thickness of the carpet fibers), such as Berbers.

A canister with a turbo nozzle is also an excellent performer on the new woven area rugs made from natural fibers such as sisal, jute, coir, etc.

The third type of canister features a power nozzle where a separate electric motor drives the brush roll. This type of canister is often referred to as a power team and is ideal for homes with large amounts of carpet or rugs and standard to heavy soiling conditions, like pet hair. There are different types of power nozzles that are used for different types of carpet fibers and soiling conditions, which are discussed below.

Other Considerations

Once you have identified the type of vacuum cleaner you can begin look at these other considerations, which include the type of fibers used in the carpet or rugs; the amount of traffic and the types of soiling in the home; performance, durability, ease of use, filtration, noise level, capacity, storage, features and cost in order to narrow down your choices even further.

Carpet Fibers

The type of fibers that your carpet or rugs are made with will influence your choice of vacuum cleaner. Most carpeting today is made of synthetic fibers, primarily nylon, though olefin and polyester are also used. Synthetic fibers are very durable and you can use the most aggressive household vacuum cleaner without fear of fiber damage.

Natural fibers, however, must be treated more gently. The most common natural fiber used in wall-to-wall carpeting is wool, but this represents less than 1% of the wall-to-wall carpeting in the U.S. Where wool is very popular, however, is in area and Oriental rugs.

Wool is a very durable fiber and has been used for thousands of years to create rugs around the world, but it must be vacuumed with care. A revolving brush can be used on wool, but the bristles must be flexible and forgiving, perhaps not so densely backed on the brush roll, so as not to fuzz the yarns and prematurely wear the carpet.

Oriental rugs are most often wool but can also be made with silk. These rugs can vary in value from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars and more. Many Oriental rugs are sold for everyday use and can be cleaned with a good household vacuum cleaner with the type of flexible and forgiving bristles just mentioned.

However, if you have high value Oriental rugs, you will need to consider the age and condition of the rug, as well as the soiling conditions. High value rugs such as these often see very little traffic and are protected from heavy soiling. You may want to consider cleaning such rugs using a carpet and rug tool without a revolving brush, one that cleans only by suction.

Other natural fibers are also cropping up more and more, especially in area rugs. Most of these fibers are from plants and include sisal, sea grass, mountain grass, bamboo, coir, cotton, jute, viscose, and even leather! Many of these rugs are woven and quite durable but they will still require softer bristles on the vacuum cleaner used to clean them. Again, a canister with a turbo power nozzle can perform very well on these types of rugs.

If you own specialty rugs like these, check the manufacturer’s recommended care instructions before purchasing a new vacuum cleaner.

Therefore, if you have synthetic fiber carpeting and/or rugs, you can select the most aggressive vacuum cleaner, whether upright or canister. If you have wool or other natural fiber carpeting or rugs, you’ll need a power team with flexible and forgiving bristles to properly vacuum without damaging the fibers. The option of softer, more flexible bristles is available primarily on power team canisters but there are some uprights available with less aggressive bristles.

Traffic and Carpet Soils

The amount of traffic and the type of carpet soils also influence your choice of vacuum cleaner. Most carpet soils come in on the shoes of people and pets that enter the home. If you have a house full of kids and pets, you will have more carpet soils being brought into the home.

80% of carpet soils are dry soils with sharp edges that, left in the carpet and walked on, act as sandpaper, actually abrading the fibers and changing the light reflection, resulting in the appearance of traffic patterns that cause carpets to ?ugly out? long before they actually wear out. This is why it is important to choose the right vacuum cleaner based on the amount of traffic and types of soils encountered.

If you have synthetic fiber carpeting and/or rugs and high traffic and the resulting heavier soil load, choose a vacuum cleaner with aggressive bristles on the revolving brush. Vacuum cleaners with dense, stiff bristles as well as a beater bar function (there are many designs that accomplish this) are excellent to bring these dry soils up from the carpet pile where they can be brushed from the surface of the carpet and vacuumed away.

Another dry soil that won’t abrade your fiber but is one of the most pervasive is dog and cat hair. Pet hair is best removed by using a revolving brush with stiff, densely packed brushes.

If your home has low traffic and no special soiling conditions, you can choose a less aggressive vacuum cleaner and maintain your home perfectly well. However, the general rule of thumb is to choose the most aggressive vacuum cleaner that your carpet and rug fibers can safely tolerate.

Vacuum Cleaner Performance

You will certainly want to evaluate the performance, or cleaning ability, of the vacuum cleaners you are considering. Determining performance or cleaning ability requires evaluating a range of vacuum cleaner specifications such as watts, amps, volts, water lift (or sealed suction), horsepower, air watts, and airflow.

You can click here to read an article devoted to understanding these and other vacuum cleaner specifications.

But to summarize, whether you are looking for an upright or canister, look for amp ratings between 10 and 12 amps or wattage ratings between 1200 and 1440 watts. (Most vacuum cleaners are rated in either amps or watts, not usually both. For detailed information about comparing watts and amps, see the article referenced above.)

Even more important than amps and watts ratings are airflow (the most important of all) and sealed suction (listed on vacuum cleaner specifications as ?water lift?). On canister vacuum cleaners (with or without power heads) airflow of 100 CFM or more and water lift of 90 inches or more is recommended.

Upright vacuum cleaners come in a wide variety of configurations, but there are two basic designs. The first is the ?Direct Air? or ?Dirty Air? design where the dirt passes through the motor prior to any filtration en route to the dust bag. Dirty air uprights are only rated in amps.

The second basic design is one that features a by-pass motor where unfiltered air does not go through the motor. In uprights with this design, only filtered or completely clean room air passes through the motor in order to cool it. By-pass uprights will usually provide airflow but not water lift specifications and a high performing upright will offer 60 CFM or better.

There is no need for water lift ratings on both types of uprights, because there is so little distance for the air and soil to travel. CFM ratings do not have to be as high as canisters for the same reason.

Many uprights will not offer airflow ratings at all and will only rate the motor in terms of amps. This only measures the electrical consumption of the motor, which is not a measure of cleaning ability. Still, when comparing different vacuum cleaners of this type, amp ratings are better than nothing.

When you choose a vacuum cleaner with excellent airflow and water lift specifications, you are well on your way to a machine with outstanding cleaning ability.

You will also want to select the appropriate attachments or cleaning tools that will easily remove the soils from the carpeting, smooth floors and above the floor surfaces in your home.

Filtration

An important, but often overlooked, element of cleaning ability is the capability of the vacuum cleaner to retain the soils, and especially the fine particulates, that it picks up.

If a vacuum cleaner does not offer high levels of filtration, these fine particles can simply go right through the vacuum cleaner and are returned to the room air, where they settle as dust.

And, if anyone in your home suffers from allergies, asthma or any other health condition that is impacted by fine particles or allergens in the indoor air, a high filtration or HEPA filtration vacuum cleaner is strongly recommended.

Quality and Durability

The quality of your vacuum cleaner is also important and will determine whether your vacuum cleaner will be replaced in a year or two or will last for many years and even decades.

When evaluating durability, evaluate the quality of the construction. Look for solid components of good quality as opposed to flimsy or brittle appearing materials. Look for good fit and finish without rough edges. The seals should be heavy duty and components that open and close should do so with a nice solid feel.

Generally, mass-market, low-priced products are not designed for long-term use. Once you compare a mass-market vacuum cleaner to those made by companies specializing in high-quality, long lasting ones, the differences will be obvious.

Another indication of quality and durability can also be partially determined by the length and specifics of the warranty.

Ease of Use

No matter how great a vacuum cleaner might be in terms of specifications, it must also be easy to use. Think about what you don’t like about your current vacuum cleaner and look for a new one that eliminates those problems.

Consider whether you have any specific issues concerning weight or personal preferences concerning uprights versus canister vacuum cleaners. If there are specific reasons for buying a new vacuum cleaner, remember to be sure that your new one provides solutions to these cleaning challenges.

But, regardless of the specifics of your situation, the vacuum cleaner you choose should feel good in your hand and not be fatiguing to use. It should maneuver easily and be able to get under your furniture.

Noise Level

Noise is also a significant consideration. Some vacuum cleaners can be so noisy that they’re almost unbearable to use. Many good vacuum cleaners can operate at levels that are quite comfortable and will allow you to hear the phone or doorbell ring quite easily.

The amount of noise a vacuum makes while operating is rated in decibels (dB). To give you some idea, a conversation at home is rated at 50dB, a garbage disposal at 80 dB and a motorcycle or lawnmower at 100 dB. Extremely quiet vacuum cleaners can operate at decibel levels in the mid-sixties while cleaners in the 70-77 dB range are still very quiet compared to the vacuum cleaner you grew up with.

Capacity

The capacity of a vacuum cleaner relates to the size of the dust bag. The bigger the dust bag, the less often it needs to be changed.

If you have a large home and/or lots of traffic (think kids and pets) this means that you will have larger amounts of soil to remove. In this case, consider a full-sized vacuum cleaner. This way, you won’t have the inconvenience and additional cost of constantly changing the paper bag.

Storage

Some homes have plenty of storage space and some don’t have an inch to spare. If storage space is at a premium in your home, be sure to give some thought to where you will store your new vacuum cleaner. Will it fit in the space where you stored your last one?

There are a wide variety of sizes of vacuum cleaners, both uprights and canisters, and you can find the right one that will fit in the storage space you have available.

Features

You will also need to decide whether the vacuum cleaner you’re considering has all or most of the features that you need for effective and pleasant cleaning.

Be sure that the vacuum cleaner you choose gives you everything to make the chore of vacuuming as easy as possible. Does it feature a cord rewind, variable speed controls, on-board tool storage, height adjustable wands, an adequate cleaning radius, the proper tools for your flooring such as a soft brush for your slate entry tiles and so on.

Cost

And, last but not least, you need a vacuum cleaner that represents the very best value. If you follow the information listed here, you will get the right vacuum cleaner for your home and family regardless of the price point. As with everything, better quality usually costs a bit more, but is often worth it in the long run.

 



Robin
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Whats the best vacuum cleaner on the market to remove pet hair or anything else?

Friday, May 1st, 2009
special ed’s sock puppet asked:


What are you using or can you recommend a vacuum cleaner thats good.Thanks.

Stanley
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